Abhishek Bachchan is adding star power to the ongoing Pro Kabaddi League and it makes a nice change to see him on the sidelines cheering on the players. Owner of the Jaipur Pink Panthers, Bachchan junior pulled in a number of friends, directors and co-stars to support his team and bolster the fledgling event. It was also heartening to see the entire Bachchan family sitting alongside. Abhishek has been under the radar after the release of Dhoom 3 last December, partly occupied shooting for Farah Khan’s Happy New Year and partly busy learning the ropes of kabaddi and traveling to Brazil to watch the World Cup. Fans will be pleased that he has signed another comedy, even if it is the third part of the questionable Housefull franchise. Abhishek has often shown his command over comedy, most recently in Bol Bachchan, and this time he has Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh playing off in a slapstick comedy.

Privacy over paparazzi

The recent stand-off between Mumbai showbiz photographers and Salman Khan prompted other Bollywood actors to also express their thoughts on the tenuous relationship between celebrities and the paparazzi. Yami Gautam, for example, felt that while actors understand that it is a part of their jobs to be clicked by the media, the close working relationship leads to some expectations vis-à-vis respect for the privacy of the actor. She said, “I was out with my family and had requested the photographer who I usually pose for at events not to click my pictures on that day. However, he still went ahead and gave the pictures out.” Neha Dhupia felt that while the photographers are “just doing their job, they are not as in your face as the Hollywood paparazzi.” Her position is: Be cautious of the place you go to and understand you are a celebrity. Let them know you don’t wish to be clicked and hope they will respect your privacy. Imran Khan has an amusing attitude. “I have adopted an extremely philosophical conclusion: I assume whatever I do will be reported or photographed, even if I am in dirty gym clothes.”

Purab’s walking the fine line

Actor Purab Kohli was a surprise addition to the line-up of reality dance show, Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa. He is also a surprise in the cast of the touring play Trivial Disasters. The former VJ and part-time resident of Goa does not think either of these is that astonishing primarily because Kohli is a trained dancer from his teen years. And he also has a long-ago connection with theatre director Atul Kumar. “Atul played a part in my TV show Hip Hip Hurray, so I know him from a long time ago,” says Kohli who is finding playing multiple characters on stage rather challenging. “It’s very different from what I am used to doing, and it’s louder than cinema. So it’s a fine line between acting right and going hammy. I guess I will realize the impact of theatre and the change in me as an actor only when I go back to cinema,” said Kohli who will be seen on the big screen in November in Agnidev Chatterjee’s love story Tere Aane Se opposite Rituparna Sengupta.

Jacqueline’s stock rises

After her sizable but forgettable part in the Salman Khan blockbuster Kick, Jacqueline Fernandez is likely to become hot property in Bollywood. The Sri Lankan former beauty queen has seen success in ensemble films like Race 2 and Housefull 2 but has never been regarded as much of an actor. Fernandez will next be seen in the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Roy. In Kick too, she serves more as window dressing than playing a critical part. Rumour mills are abuzz about her closeness to her Kick co-star, which would be a big leg up from her earlier alleged paramour, Sajid Khan.